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Last week, the United States Supreme Court rendered a historic ruling against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and all laws that seek to limit big corporate money in American politics. The Court affirmed the position argued by Citizens United, a prominent conservative advocacy and lobbying group in Washington DC. The group challenged the legality of an FEC regulation which restricted the ability of corporations and unions to fund political advertisements. This decision, which has been coine

Like George W. Bush, President Obama promised to unite a nation deeply divided by partisan politics.  However, a year into Obama's first term, America is more polarized than ever according to a Gallup Poll. President Obama's first year stands as the most polarizing on record since polling commenced under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  88% of Democrats approve of his performance, while only 23% of Republicans approve, representing a 65% partisan gap.  This far exceeds the 45% gap under Preside

According to Tom Herman at the Wall Street Journal, if Congress does not pass legislation this year, then millions of additional Americans will be caught in the throes of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).  Last year, Congress was able to pass legislative relief, but the legislation was only valid for one year.  This year, most financial pundits predict passage of extended relief in order to avoid a massive tax increase that would cripple millions during a severe recession and harm re-election c

Since the panic of 1893, every major economic crisis in this nation’s history has reinvigorated relief garden movements to help inner-city underemployed. In 1917, the Liberty Garden Movement was started by the federal government to build community morale for our troops and feed a nation at war. The United States School Garden Army was instituted in the same year to carry on the successful School Gardens program of the early 20th century. These early urban garden programs were aimed at acculturat

I know what you’re thinking.  “Who doesn’t want world peace?” Even Sandra Bullock in the movie “Miss Congeniality” wanted world peace.  Leaders the world over are always calling for world peace. Not me.  I’ll take common courtesy.  World peace is too broad to achieve and too nebulous a thought.  It has to start somewhere and with me, that is in the mirror.  The act of courtesy costs nothing and makes a world of difference.  Remember the last time you allowed a car into the lane front of you, or

In 1995, Congress addressed this issue with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, sponsored by Republican Senator Kempthorne of Indiana and signed into law by Democratic President Bill Clinton.  The purpose of the bill was “to curb the practice of imposing unfunded Federal mandates on States and local governments..." and "to end the imposition, in the absence of full consideration by Congress, of Federal mandates on State, local, and tribal governments…”  The problem: the Act so narrowly defined wha

Though official filings have yet to be released, a CBS News correspondent estimates a substantial tab for the US Congressional delegation's presence at the recent Copenhagen Climate Summit.  The bipartisan group, including family members and staffers, is estimated to have required 3 military jets, 321 hotel bookings at a five-star outfit, dozens of commercial flights, and tens of thousands of dollars more in fancy meals.  When asked about the monolithic presence, not a single member of the congr

Governor Schwarzenegger has laid down the gauntlet to the Federal Government.  Claiming that California is chronically short-changed due to an inaccurate federal funding formula, Schwarzenegger is demanding $6.9 billion to help plug the current $21 billion budget deficit. If California is unable to secure the additional federal aid, then the Governor has threatened to make painful cuts to a variety of statewide social programs.  Thus far, however, the Federal Government has not been very recepti

Although  campaign finance laws limit the amount an individual can donate to a particular  candidate, a California  Watch Investigation shows that several influential party donors, on both  sides of the aisle, are dodging the rules by funneling money through local  party committees.  County parties, in  many hotly contested races, have become middlemen in money laundering schemes,  acting as distribution centers for big donors that have exceeded their  contribution limits to individual campaigns

An open carry revolution is underway in the United States, and Californians are participating in the act of exercising their constitutional rights. In fact, the second amendment of the Bill of Rights states: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Yet infringement upon our gun rights is occurring at an alarming rate nationwide.  Last year, a Homeland Security report was leaked labeling in